Ram head for trash compactor

ABSTRACT

A removable ram head for a trash compactor employs an integral casting having a flat compacting face with an undulating or scalloped periphery of generally overall circular configuration. In trailing relation to the compacting face is a circular, laterally extending flange to which is secured an annular gasket. The undulating periphery of the compacting face and the flange combine to increase the compacting efficiency of the ram head. Structural details of a trash compactor incorporating the ram head are also disclosed.

United 2 States Patent 11 1 Bour eois 1 1 Ma 15 1973 [54] RAM HEAD FORTRASH COMPACTOR 3,353,478 11/1967 Hopkins ..100 295 x 2,622,510 12/1952L tt ....l0O/295 X [75] inventor: Joseph Bourgems, cedar 3,371,5993/1968 Tzzu ka ....1o0 295 x I Iowa 3,444,806 5/1969 Ozeki etal.........100/259 x [73] Assigneez Amana Refrigerafion, Inc Amana, 3,460,4638/1969 Jernstrom ..lOO/295X lo wa Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite [22]File July 1971 Att0rney-I-laven E. Simmons 21 A l. N 159762 1 pp 0 57ABSTRACT [52] us Cl i l 100/295 A removable ram head for a trashcompactor employs [51] Int Cl 15/06 an integral casting having a flatcompacting face with [58] Fie'ld "6 an undulating or scalloped peripheryof generally 241/99 overall circular configuration. In trailing relationto the compacting face is a circular, laterally extending flange towhich is secured an annular gasket. The un- [56] References cueddulating periphery of the compacting face and the UNITED STATES PATENTSflange combine to increase the compacting efficiency of the ram head.Structural details of a trash compacg fi i tor incorporating the ramhead are also disclosed. o ase a 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUM51W 3; 732.806

SHEET 1 [1F 3 v INVENTOR. FIG JOSEPH F. BOURGEOIS WWQFM ATTORNEYPATENItD 5W5 3.732.806

SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F BOURGEOIS "Y/AM m ATTORNEY PAIENIED 51975 3,732,806

sum 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F. BOURGEOIS fim ff'www AT TORNEY 1 RAM HEAD FOR TRASH COMPACTORBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An unfavorable aspect of prior trashcompactors is the ram head itself. These are typically integral with theram and cannot easily be removed for cleaning or replacement. Problemswith them have also been incurred on account of the size and shape oftheir compacting faces. Clearance between the ram head and the containerinto which the trash is placed and compacted is important, especiallywhen a tapered container is used in order more easily to remove thecompacted trash. If the clearance is too little, then articles can jambetween the ram head and the container; if it is too much, then smallerarticles will be missed or also jam. On the other hand, the area of theram head should be as small as possible in order to provide maximumpressure on the trash with respect to the overall force applied to theram. These competing considerations have not been too well accommodatedin present trash compactors of the kind concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention here summarized and laterclaimed is confined to the removable ram head, although other inventivefeatures of the trash compactor in which the ram head is employed arealso shown in the drawings and disclosed in the more detaileddescription which follows this summary.

In its preferred form the ram head of the present invention is anintegral casting having a leading end wall providing a flat compactingface. Around the end wall and extending in trailing relation from it isa side wall which both forms the periphery of the compacting face andundulates radially with respect to a circle circumscribed thereabout.The overall configuration of the head is thereby generally circular inshape and the periphery of the compacting face also of undulateconfiguration. A circular flange, concentric with the aforesaid circle,extends around and laterally outwards from the side wall in trailingrelation to the compacting face, thus providing a step between thecompacting face and the flange. The latter has an annular gasket securedto its trailing face and transverse reinforcing ribbing is providedwithin the confines of the side wall and joined thereto and to the endwall. To the ribbing is secured a pair of transverse ways by which theram head is slidably attached to and detached from the ram of thecompactor in a direction normal to that of its compacting stroke.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical elevation of theinterior ofa trash compactor, certain portions of the chassis, the theram and its drive and the trash container mount being additionallysectioned to illustrate their details.

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the ram and its drive.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the removable ram head accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the removable ram head.

DESCRIPTION OF- THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The trash compactor consists ofa chassis formed essentially of a heavy, downwardly flanged rectangularfloor plate 11 reinforced beneath by a transverse channel assembly 12.Just inboard of and along the side edges of the floor plate 11 arelocated two broad, shallow vertical channels 13 disposed in facingrelation to each other. The lower ends of the channels 13 are providedwith horizontal tongues 13a which pass through slots 1 la along the sideflanges of the floor plate 11 and engage its under face, being securedthereto by bolts 13b. The channels 13 extend nearly to the top of thecompactor and are capped by a heavy, downwardly flanged top plate 14,also reinforced above by a pair of transverse channel assemblies 15. Therespective opposite flanges of the channels 13 are connected by heavycrossplates 16 just beneath the top plate 14, all to form in effect aheavy, cage-like structure in which the ram operates. Over the chassis10 is slipped an open front, rectangular sheet metal cabinet 17 whoseforward edges are flanged at 17a and provide with a toe space 18. Thefront of the cabinet is closed by three panels, 19, 20 and 21 againstthe cabinet flanges 17a, the upper edge of the panel 21 being providedwith a hand grip 22. The cabinet 17 is secured only to the remand sideedges of the floor plate 11, being otherwise spaced from the chassis 10in order to minimize transmission of vibration, and the floor and topplates 11 and 14 extend forward to just behind the toe space 18 and thepanel 19, respectively.

The ram assembly, generally indicated at 30, consists of an upperhorizontal plate 31 of rectangular shape generally spanning the areabounded by the four inner corners of the channels 13 and provided withtransverse upwardly turned flanges 32. From the side edges of the plate31 depend a pair of deep skirt plates 33, reinforced by angle braces 34about the four edges of the plate 31 and by flanges 35a and 355 alongtheir four vertical and to bottom edges. Over the four corners formed bythe skirt plates 33 and their flanges 35a are secured nylon glides 36which slidably bear against the inner corners of the channels13.'Beneath the upper plate 31 are welded the upper ends of a pair oftrapezoidal shaped supports 37 braced by flanges 38 along their uprightedges and disposed in spaced, back-toback relation centrally of theplate 31. Welded to the lower ends of the supports 37 is the upper faceof a circular bottom plate 39 having a forward tab 40 for purposes to belater described and centrally disposed with respect to the upper ramplate 31. The latter is centrally bored between the supports 37 toreceive a flanged swivel seat 41 for a swivel nut 42 having a squaredupper boss 42a, the seat 41 and nut 42 being retained by a flange plate43 bolted through the plate 31, the plate 43 having a squared aperture43a receiving the boss 42a and so preventing rotation of the nut 42.Through the latter is threaded a long, Acme type vertical screw 44, itsthread being interrupted at 45 toward its upper end and providedthereabove with a pair of opposite flats 46 on which is threaded a nut47. The latter supports a large, cogged driven gear 48 whose hub 49 fitsthe flats 46 to fix the gear 48 relative to the screw 44. On the hub 49is placed a sleeve needle bearing 50 which is received in a flangedbushing 51 seated in an aperture 52 in the chassis top plate 14 andbolted thereto between the channel assemblies 15. Above and below thebusing 51 areinterposed a pair of washer-type needle thrust bearings 53,each sandwiched between a pair of flat washers 54. Through the bushing51 extends the upper end of the screw 44, the

latter and thus the entire ram assembly 30 being suspended from thebushing 51 by means ofa nut 55 hearing against the upper-most washer 54.In order to prevent whipping of the screw 44, its lower end is extendeddown through an aperture 57 in the ram bottom plate 39. Forward of theram assembly 30 a hat-shaped bracket 58 is bolted to the under face ofthe chassis top plate 14 from which is vertically suspended anappropriate electric motor M, the upper end of its drive shaft carryinga small cogged drive gear 59, the gears 48 and 59 being connected by acogged drive belt 60. It will be understood, of course, that a suitableelectrical control circuit is employed to drive the ram assembly 30, butsince various of these are well known and play no part in the presentinvention, none needs be described herein.

Accordingly, as the screw 44 is driven in the appropriate direction, theentire ram assembly 30 moves downwardly owing to the swivel nut 42. Thefour nylon glides 36, which in effect provide a total of eight bearingfaces, fit tightly against the inner corners of the chassis channels 13and are heavily greased. The screw 44, which provides a single axis ofthrust centrally disposed with respect to the ram assembly 30 andparallel to the glides 36, absorbs most of the resistance encountered bythe ram assembly 30 as it descends. Any tendency for it to cock or twistis effectively resisted and accommodated by the strength of the ramassembly 30, the extensive length of the eight surfaces of the nylonglides 36 and the-substantial lateral spacing of the latter from theaxis of the screw 44. The interrupted thread portion 45 of the screw 44prevents over-travel of the ram 30 upon its upward movement.

The removable ram head assembly 90, which is of generally circularshape, consists essentially of an integral casting 91 having a side wallformed by peripheral ribbing 92 which undulates radially with respect toa circle circumscribed thereabout, the ribbing 92 being extended toprovide a forward tab 93 similar to tab 40 of the ram bottom plate 39.The ribbing 92 is reinforced by reticular ribbing 94 therebetween, theupper ends of the ribbing 92 and 94 and the upper face of the tab 93providing faces mating with the lower face of the ram bottom plate 39.The lower ends of the ribbing 92 and 94 are closed by an end wall whoseleading face provides a flat, compacting surface 95 whose peripheralcontour is the same as that of the ribbing 92 and centrally disposedwith respect to the axis of thrust of the ram drive screw 44. Midwaybetween the top and bottom of the periphery of the ribbing 92 is formeda laterally extending, generally circular flange 96 below the level ofthe tab 93 of substantially the same overall diameter as the ram bottomplate 39 and concentric therewith. The intersections between selectedones of the ribbing 94 are enlarged to provide four rectangularly spacedbolsters 97, centrally disposed with respect to the head assembly 90, towhich is screwed an inverted hat section plate 98, diametrically alignedwith the tab 93. Beneath the leaves 99 of the plate 98 the respectiveribbings 92 and 94 are relieved, as indicated at 100, in order to permitthe leaves 99 slidably to engage a pair of flat spaced ways 101 formedfrom a pair of reversely bent metal strips 102 welded to the bottom faceof the ram bottom pate 39 to each side of a diametrical line through thetab 40 in order to attach the ram head assembly 90 to the plate 39. Thetwo are releasably retained by a spring loaded bayonet catch assembly103 mounted in the tab 40 and engaging a hole 104 in the tab 93therebelow. In order to provide clearance for the lower end of the screw44 as the head assembly 'is slid on and off the way 101, the ribbing 92and the flange 96 opposite the tab 93 are relieved at 105, as is thetransverse ribbing 94 between the adjacent-most pair of bolsters 97 andthe corresponding portion 106 of the plate 98. Finally, to the upperface of the flange 96 is screwed a neoprene splash gasket 107 having acircular perimeter of a'diameter somewhat greater than that of theflange 96. Accordingly, by releasing the catch 103 the ram head assembly90 can be slid forwardly and readily removed for cleaning orreplacement.

A slide-out mount for the trash container is formed by a rectangularfloor pan 121 having a large centrally located, circular aperture 123therein normally axially aligned with the ram head 90 and somewhatlarger in diameter. The floor pan 121 is carried on a pair ofthree-piece, ball bearing full extension glides of conventional type(not shown) secured across the flanges of the chassis channels 13 justabove the floor plate 11. The cabinet front panel 21, carrying the handgrip 22, is secured in turn to the pan 121 by means of a pair ofupright, trapezoidal braces 129. Four flat, container supporting springs(not shown) secured to the pan 121 extend radially into the aperture 123and support the tapered, bucket-like trash container 180 which sitsthereon through the aperture 123.

When the ram 30 is in its fully retracted position as shown in FIG. 1,the container 180 can be pulled forwardly out of the cabinet 17 on itsmount 120, as indicated by the arrow, by the hand grip 22 in order fortrash to be deposited When the container 180 is full, the ram 30 isactivated and descends to compress the trash at which time the springson which the container 180 sits deflect allowing the latter to sinkthrough the aperture 123 until its bottom sits firmly upon the chassisfloor plate 11. The scalloped perimeter of the lower face 95 of the ramhead plate 91 not only reduces the area and thus increases the pressureapplied by the face 95 but also tends, together with the step betweenthe face 95 and the flange 96 above, to apply a multitude of random,downwardly directed forces on bottles and the like lying about the wallof the container 180 in order to provide effective breakage and toreduce or eliminate lateral forces on the side wall of the container180. At the same time, the flange 96 avoids missing small objects andyet minimizes clearance between the ram head plate 91 and the wall ofthe container 180. As a practical working example, the diameter of theflange 96 of the ram head plate 81 may be about 13 inch while the edgeof the scalloped perimeter of the ram head face 95 undulates betweeninch and l-Vz inch from the edge of the flange 96, the step between thelatter and the face 95 being about inch. The container 180 is sized sothat the clearance between the edge of the flange 96 and the interior ofthe container 180 is about 5/16 inch at the top and 3/l6 inch at thebottom.

Though the present invention has been described in terms of a particularembodiment, being the best mode known of carrying out the invention, itis not limited to that embodiment alone. Instead, the following claimsare to be read as encompassing all modifications and adaptation of theinvention falling within its spirit and scope.

1 claim:

1. In a trash compactor having ram means movable in a substantiallyrectilinear leading direction to compact trash, said ram means includinga ram head assembly movable by said ram means in said direction, saidhead assembly including a substantially planar leading compactingsurface, the improvement comprising: said compacting surface having aperiphery undulating radially with respect to the axis of a circle aboutsaid periphery, sad circle being in circumscribed relation to saidperiphery; and a generally circular flange concentric with said circle,said flange extending radially with respect to said axis and having aleading face disposed in trailing relation to said compacting surface,the overall diameter of said flange being greater than the diameter ofsaid circle, said compacting surface and flange face being joined by aside wall integral with both having an outer face undulating asaforesaid.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said compacting surface is formed onthe leading face of an end'wall joining said side wall, said end wallhaving a trailing face and sad side wall an inner face, and includingreinforcing ribbing extending between said side wall inner face andintegrally joined thereto add to said end wall trailing face.

3. the device of claim 2 including a flexible gasket secured to saidflange and extending radially with respect to said axis beyond theperiphery of said flange.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said head assembly is releasablyattached to said ram means, said head assembly being removable therefromby slidable movement In a direction normal to said axis.

1. In a trash compactor having ram means movable in a substantially rectilinear leading direction to compact trash, said ram means including a ram head assembly movable by said ram means in said direction, said head assembly including a substantially planar leading compacting surface, the improvement comprising: said compacting surface having a periphery undulating radially with respect to the axis of a circle about said periphery, sad circle being in circumscribed relation to said periphery; and a generally circular flange concentric with said circle, said flange extending radially with respect to said axis and having a leading face disposed in trailing relation to said compacting surface, the overall diameter of said flange being greater than the diameter of said circle, said compacting surface and flange face being joined by a side wall integral with both having an outer face undulating as aforesaid.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said compacting surface is formed on the leading face of an end wall joining said side wall, said end wall having a trailing face and sad side wall an inner face, and including reinforcing ribbing extending between said side wall inner face and integrally joined thereto add to said end wall trailing face.
 3. the device of claim 2 including a flexible gasket secured to said flange and extending radially with respect to said axis beyond the periphery of said flange.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said head assembly is releasably attached to said ram means, said head assembly being removable therefrom by slidable movement n a direction normal to said axis. 